Does Coaching Industry have sidelined the Professional Psychotherapy?
Today, coaching has become the buzz word in the era of social media advancement. The coaching industry has done remarkable growth in its niches of life, sleep and nutrition, wellness and mental fitness, career, peak performance or business and many more. But, the relevance of psychotherapy and the issues of mental health, prevalent in the social settings, negate this question that coaching industry has sidelined the professional Psychotherapy.
How Blooming Coaching Industry is creating this illusion of sidelining the professional psychotherapy
The spectrum of coaching industry varies from professional psychotherapy at personal, professional, and International levels. Therefore, various indicators are being discussed in this article that narrate that how coaching industry is sidelining psychotherapy by reaching its full climax of achieving its desired goals of tapping the full potential of human resource.
Indicators that prove how psychotherapy is being sidelined by coaching industry
As per Atlantic International University, “Etymologically the English term “coach” is derived from a medium of transport that traces its origins to the Hungarian word Kosci meaning “carriage” that was named after the village where it was first made. Coaching thus has been used in language to describe the process used to transport people from where they are, to where they want to be”. It is in this essence that coaching industry is helping people to achieve their mental fitness as being an efficient workforce of the society. People who take coaching see immense results in their performance.
| Research shows 77% workforce significantly improved their well – being after just 3-4 months of taking coaching |
| 65% greater happiness |
| 34% more engaged at work |
| 22% more creative at work |
| 24% higher meaning and purpose |
| 59% higher life satisfaction |
| 43% higher optimism |
Coaching Industry is a luxury whereas psychotherapy is still a stigma
19% of the US population is affected by Anxiety disorders. 60% of college students are living with mental health issues. Whereas, in some part of the world, psychotherapy is still a stigma and it is not dealt with utmost care and diligence. Whereas, coaching industry is thriving, the coaches and the clients both are proud of their self-development journey. They openly claim that they are seeking and giving coaching in various fields. Even the mental health coaches are less stigmatized from mental health patients because they are helping the clients to gain the mental fitness. On the flip side, when psychotherapy is being offered to the same people, it somehow decreases the value of humans as they are no more clients now, they have become patients. Therefore, it is perceived that coaching industry is sidelining the psychotherapy because of the value attached to this particular field.
Flexible code of conduct in coaching industry whereas strict ethical guidelines in psychotherapy
The coaching industry is not bound to offices, hospitals or specific locations. The meetings between coaches and clients can take place anywhere, even virtually and on phone calls. Coach does not tell the client what do to, he just navigates his clients to reach their highest self. Coaches are self-made but they also have the certification in this field. But, it is their voice that comes from inside that motivates them to help the masses rather any degree or professional training. On the other side, psychotherapists need degrees, certifications and trainings in their profession. They also have to follow certain strict code of ethical guidelines before treating any patient. These myriads of differences are contributing in the growth of the coaching industry which is ultimately giving this image that psychotherapy is being sidelined by the former profession.
Coaching industry encompasses broader dimensions whereas psychotherapy is a narrow field
Coaching industry is not limited to any one particular field. There are 109,200 coaches worldwide. From 2019, an increase of 54% has been noticed and coaching industry has become worth of $20 billion. The coaching market generates $4.564 billion globally. The coaching comprises almost every domain of the society. Whereas, psychotherapy deals in Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression, Obsessive Compulsory disorder, mental illness like periodic unhappiness, doubt and anguish, or behavioral patterns that interfere significantly and chronically in daily functioning . Therefore, the prevalence of coaching industry in every other field gives the idea that it is sidelining the psychotherapy in the field of mental growth.
Equality in Coaching industry whereas unequal equations in psychotherapy
The coaching industry has one very glaring feature that both the coach and client are on the same level in their communication, idea sharing and expressing their needs. The coach is like a buddy that helps his clients tap their full potential and achieve the mental fitness to live the life of his dreams. The coaching techniques include guiding and navigating the clients in order to choose their decisions by their own. The coach provides various strategies to its clients for smooth functioning of his growth process. But, psychotherapists do not enjoy the equal relationship with their clients because their relationship is much more serious and rules driven with their patients. This unequal equation gives the idea that, because so many people are going for coaching and trying to avoid psychotherapy at their fullest, coaching industry is sidelining the psychotherapy.
Coaching industry maximizes you strengths whereas psychotherapy deals with the survival
It is human tendency that he wants to get fit and grow continuously throughout his life. Coaching makes you fit and enhance your strengths, carve your potentials, help you to build your dream job. Whereas, Psychotherapy deals with the survival as patients who are unable to cope up with their daily routine seek this medical help. But, the fascinating point is that mental therapy is a means to an end of getting coaching for mental fitness. When one leaves the spectrum of survival, then only can reaches to the climax of fitness, therefore these two fields go hand in glove.
Conclusion
Coaching industry is not sidelining psychotherapy because coaching industry is the next step of mental health services. The journey of healing and transformation begin with mental health services and then it continues towards the coaching of mental fitness. Coaching industry is nothing without the support of health sector specifically without psychotherapy. So, it is wrongly said that coaching industry is sidelining psychotherapy because there are only a few glaring aspects of coaching industry that narrate the brighter side of its growth. But, it can never dim the essence of psychotherapy which is contributing in the betterment of this society. The world is nothing without the health experts. Coaches are just continuing the social work of the mighty doctors in their own versatile and creative ways. So, coaching industry is not sidelining the psychotherapy as both the fields are on their specific spectrum of social work and social contribution in the era of social media advancement.
